Wareham has received an  $825,000 development grant from the state for several programs and projects the Community and Economic Development Authority wants to fund.

Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito announced Wareham's Community Development Block Grant, an annual grant, Tuesday afternoon in Besse Park. With the addition of another $180,000 from the CDBG program, the town now has $1,005,000 to spend on various programs and development projects.

CEDA Director Salvador Pina broke down the services the money would be used to fund. Town operations will get $240,000, while programs that fall under the umbrella of public services, such as domestic violence prevention, homelessness prevention, and food pantry services will see a total of $125,000. CEDA will also allot $100,000 to housing rehabilitation, $140,000 to the Everett School’s rehabilitation, and $400,000 to the renovation of Hynes Field.

Pina said the town has done right by its people over the last five years, since its annual award of the grant beginning in 2010. Over the last five years, Wareham has received a little more than $5.4 million in block grant funds and additional program funds.

“The impact [these funds] have made on the people of the community – and I have been blessed to see these people firsthand – has been extraordinary for these folks,” Pina said. “We served 17,600 people through our public services. … Without these dollars, these services would not be available.”

Polito said the award of the grant was part of the administration’s new "community compact," an executive order “that will allow us to build stronger communities by strengthening the relationship between state and local government,” and allow the state government to work more closely with local leaders.

“It’s not the state telling you what’s best for your community, it’s you determining what’s best for your community,” Polito said.

Following the announcement, Pina took Polito on a walk through town, to show her how the state funds have been used, including Main Street’s sidewalk repair, and the rehabilitation of the train station. Polito suggested the town apply for other grants, too, such as grants that would be geared toward economic development on the waterfront.

Pina said he appreciated Polito’s visit.

“I think it’s good to see a political leader invested and take the time to experience a community firsthand,” Pina said. “When you talk to them later about it, they have a context.”